[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12739-12740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4863]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 022201A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
by Vessels Using Non-Pelagic Trawl Gear in the Red King Crab Savings 
Subarea

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish with non-
pelagic trawl gear in the red king crab savings subarea (RKCSS) of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to utilize the amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit 
specified for the RKCSS.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 
2001, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 27, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

[[Page 12740]]

(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
    The amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for 
the RKCSS was established as 22,674 animals by the 2001 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001). The 
directed fishery for groundfish with non-pelagic trawl gear was closed 
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 18, 2001 in accordance with Sec.  
679.21(e)(7)(ii)(B)(66 FR 11123, February 22, 2001) because it was 
expected that the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the 
RKCSS would be caught.
    NMFS has determined that as of February 20, 2001, 6,000 red king 
crab remain in the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the 
RKCSS. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is re-
opening directed fishing for groundfish with non-pelagic trawl gear in 
the RKCSS in accordance with Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B).

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that 
the need to immediately implement this action in order to allow full 
utilization of the remaining amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch 
limit specified for the RKCSS constitutes good cause to waive the 
requirement to provide prior notice opportunity for public comment 
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 50 CFR 
679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), as such procedures would be unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. Similarly the need to implement these 
measures in a timely fashion to allow full utilization of the remaining 
amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS 
constitutes good cause to find that the effective date of this action 
cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a 
delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
    This action is required by Sec. 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 22, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4863 Filed 2-23-01; 3:17 pm]
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